Opening Weekend ™ begins Saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and we may get a twofer when it comes to watching the great Mathieu van der Poel. A day after Day 1, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne is here…and we fans ask the question: sprint or selection?
The route has changed little for 2026, and the finale is still more a test of timing and teamwork rather than outright climbing difficulty.
Sprint or break?
Thirteen hills are packed into almost 200 km of racing. The Hotond and Kluisberg which come later in the race often prove o be the leg-breakers. If attacks stick there, the sprinters’ plans unravel. If not, the long run-in and local laps offer the teams with fastmen to get organized.
The possible inclusion of Mathieu van der Poel changes things up bigtime. Alongside defending winner Jasper Philipsen, Alpecin-Premier Tech can play multiple cards: force a split on the climbs or wait for a controlled finish.
Couple of Canucks
Wout van Aert won’t be racing in either of the Opening Weekend races, unfortunately, due to sickness. But Visma-Lease a Bike and Soudal Quick-Step will defintiely try and screw up Alpecin’s chances.
Two Canadians will be there. NSN Cycling’s Classis go-to man, Montreal’s Guillaume Boivin. Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Que.’s Nick Zukowsky of Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. Zukowksky has shown some fine form this season, being active in breakaways–including one that got caught with 5km to go at Stage 5 of the UAE Tour.
Reminder about Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
There is unfortunately no women’s edition of KBK–although they will be racing on Saturday. And the good news is our country is well-represented, with seven Canadians racing. Alexandra Volstad (EF Education-Oatly), Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne Monbana My Pie) and Mara Roldan (Team Picnic PostNL). They’re joined by Katja Verkerk (Minimax Cycling Team), Emilie Fortin (Minimax Cycling Team), Maggie Coles-Lyster (Human Powered Health) and national champion Alison Jackson, (St Michel – Preference Home – Auber93) are in the mix. And in that group of Canucks there is some serious firepower–we could definitely see one or two of those women up there in the finale.
FloBikes.com coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. EST. Plus, your pals at Canadian Cycling Magazine will have a full report after.
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